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Overview

The gripping first installment in New York Times bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series.

One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill.

No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon.

Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.

Don’t miss Restore Me, the electrifying fourth installment of this New York Times bestselling series, available now!

About the Author

Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Very Large Expanse of Sea, the Shatter Me series, Furthermore, and Whichwood. She can usually be found overcaffeinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere @TaherehMafi or on her website, www.taherehbooks.com.

What People are Saying About This

Kami Garcia

EARLY PRAISE FOR UNRAVEL ME:“Unravel Me is dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense. I dare you to stop reading.”

Rip-roaring adventure and steamy romance scenes, with a relationship teens will root for as much as they did for Bella and Edward. Inventive touches propel the story, such as strikeouts that reveal Juliette’s inner thoughts. The final chapters leave Juliette, Adam, and Warner well poised for round two.

Mafi combines a psychological opener with an action-adventure denouement in her YA debut, and the result is a page-turner with a slightly split personality. Juliette Ferrars is 17 and cannot remember a loving touch; indeed, after 264 days in solitary confinement, she can barely remember human contact. Then a boy is shoved into her cell, and her world changes. Just as she begins to trust Adam, guards burst in and march them off to the commandant. Juliette discovers Adam is really a soldier of the Reestablishment, a totalitarian regime that wants to use Juliette because her touch can kill. Juliette wants to get far away from anyone she can hurt or who can hurt her—though she can’t help hoping that, somehow, Adam might not fall in either of those categories. Mafi doesn’t escape some rookie pitfalls; descriptions like “fifteen thousand feelings of disbelief hole-punched in my heart” strain after lyricism, and proof that the divided plot can be brought to a satisfying conclusion must await later installments. Nevertheless, this is a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks. Ages 14–up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 9 Up—Juliette knows that she is a monster; her touch is fatal. She has been living in a cell in a mental institution for 264 days, all alone. When a boy is brought in as her cell mate, his arrival sparks an explosion of events that changes her life as well as the world. Shatter Me takes place in a future time in which a lack of resources has so frightened the citizens that they have handed over all of their basic rights to a totalitarian government. The regime has plans for Juliette, but she finds the strength to resist the powers that be and joins in a rebel movement, becoming the central figure that everyone is fighting to possess. Mafi sets the scene with the horrendous consequences of ecological greediness and the end result of continuing to demand that the government fix everything and protect everyone. Then she shines a light of hope through the idea that evolution always finds a way to adapt. A romantic angle adds to the suspense as Juliette struggles to trust and to love even though the consequences are death if she misjudges. She narrates the story and shares portions of her journal, which adds to the connection readers have with her. Character development is solid and realistic. The book ends with room for a sequel but not in a cliff-hanger, so teens will feel satisfied yet wait impatiently for more.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ

School Library Journal

A dystopic thriller joins the crowded shelves but doesn't distinguish itself. Juliette was torn from her home and thrown into an asylum by The Reestablishment, a militaristic regime in control since an environmental catastrophe left society in ruins. Juliette's journal holds her tortured thoughts in an attempt to repress memories of the horrific act that landed her in a cell. Mysteriously, Juliette's touch kills. After months of isolation, her captors suddenly give her a cellmate--Adam, a drop-dead gorgeous guy. Adam, it turns out, is immune to her deadly touch. Unfortunately, he's a soldier under orders from Warner, a power-hungry 19-year-old. But Adam belongs to a resistance movement; he helps Juliette escape to their stronghold, where she finds that she's not the only one with superhuman abilities. The ending falls flat as the plot devolves into comic-book territory. Fast-paced action scenes convey imminent danger vividly, but there's little sense of a broader world here. Overreliance on metaphor to express Juliette's jaw-dropping surprise wears thin: "My mouth is sitting on my kneecaps. My eyebrows are dangling from the ceiling." For all of her independence and superpowers, Juliette never moves beyond her role as a pawn in someone else's schemes. Part cautionary tale, part juicy love story, this will appeal to action and adventure fans who aren't yet sick of the genre. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Well this was a surprise. I actually didn't set my standards too high for this one because I just didn't feel like I had enough to go on. It sounded intriguing and the cover is awesome. I actually ended up tearing through it and the storyline kept me guessing.
I was instantly drawn to Juliette. She's completely isolated from society. She doesn't speak or touch other humans. Her only communication with the outside world is the alarms that signal different part of the day (but those aren't even an regular intervals). She's been shunned her entire life, and feels like even her own parents wanted nothing to do with her. She may not like being all alone, but she feels being away from society is the best thing for her. And even she doesn't know what she's fully capable of.
Entire in Adam. He suddenly appears as her cellmate. She's terrified of being around another human. She doesn't trust why he's there, and for very good reason. It's a test she passes with flying colors. The Reestablishment wants to use her as a weapon to bring those who defy them under their control. She's taken from her cell into a house rich in luxuries she never had in the outside world. But, she's has no desire to use her touch to bring people pain, no matter how grandly she is treated.
Warner is the leader of The Reestablishment's son. He seems to get a particularly gruesome kick out of the pain the Juliette can cause people. He's the one who wants to use her for his own gain. His character really intrigued me. He's extremely twisted and is convinced that Juliette enjoys it as much as he does. He will stop at nothing to keep her under his control. The tests he sets up for Juliette to perform were horrible!
The story takes an interesting twist when we learn that Adam is not all that he seems. It turns out he has a special connection to Juliette which he plays to his advantage. For awhile, I wasn't sure which side he was truly on, which is I'm sure how that author intended you to feel. When the truth comes out, I ended up completely in love with his character.
As Adam and Juliette learn who they can trust concerning what is really happening in the outside world, the story starts racing forward at breathtaking speed. There for some many things that happened that I really wasn't expecting. This wasn't your typical dystopian and I think that's why I was so surprised by it. I ended up really enjoying it. Can't wait for the next one!

Ieva

More than 1 year ago

This book had everything you would want: action, emotion, romance. I could not put it down, and discarded all my homework to finish it. Due to the romance in the novel, I would not recommend it to anyone under 15; it was not as inappropriate as a romance novel, but some parts got close, and I know some parents look out for that for their 13 year olds. Otherwise, there were no curse words that caught my attention, and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

vickytren

More than 1 year ago

This was a wonderful read I enjoyed reading. Couldn't put it down.

PageGirl

More than 1 year ago

The Writing: Tahereh Mafi, you had me at your cross-outs! When you read this you will see, her style of writing here gives you insight and subtext to the main character, Juliette and you almost feel that you are in on her secret and everyone else is on the outside. It's just you and her trying to get through this, together! There are times in Mafi's writing where you feel you are hearing someone tell a story; a story they are so excited to share, they don't even have time to take breath. There is almost a 60's beatnik poetry reading feel to the rhythm of the words. You are there, caught in the experience and I was loving every minute of it. I read this story on a recent weekend cruise to Mexico, and with all of the wonderful distractions to be had, I sat there in my nice dress eating lobster tail but all that was going through my head was: What is going to happen next with Juliette and Adam?; What will the Reestablishment force Juliette into next?; Will she escape?; How will this end?; and (most importantly) Book 2 better already be in the works!
The Concept:
OK, I don't know about you, but I am one of those wives that is at every blockbuster comic-book-based movie that her husband drags her to. I've paid extra money to go to the Arch-light Theater in L.A. to see one of the many Spiderman movies without all of the hooligan distractions that often come with comic-book-movie viewing. I've been at many a meal where the intricacies of each movie in the series, was not only discussed but also compared to the original comic book stories. What I sayin' is, I'm kinda "in the know" when it comes to comic book themes! Well ladies, Mafi has written a version for us. She has taken the forever male dominated story line of humans with superpowers, battling over the world and addressed it from a pointedly female perspective. Mix that with my ever beloved theme of dystopian society literature, and guess what, I love it!
THE ROMANCE:
"O MY!" is what I thought as I sat by the pool on the cruise ship, giggling and blushing looking around to be sure nobody could see the images Mafi was painting in my head. Trust me, I would not let my 12 year old read this, but I would suggest it to all of my married lady friends out there! Hubba Hubba (read that last part with a deep voice)!
Put this one on your pre-order list.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This book was absolutely AMAZING!
I was hooked as soon as I read the first page.
A few of my fav quotes includes - 1. &quot;He's wrong... He's so wrong... He's more wrong than an upside-down rainbow.&quot; 2. &quot;I am a being compromised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction. They want to delete every point of punctutation in my life from this earth and I don't think I can let that happen.&quot;
*SPOILER AHEAD* Juliet is escorted to &quot;Warner's domain&quot;--- &quot;Dirty money is dripping from the walls, a year's supply of food wasted on marble floors, hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical aid poured into fancy furniture and Persian rugs. I feel the artificial heat pouring in through air vents and think of children screaming for clean water. I squint through crystal chandeliers and hear mothers begging for mercy. I see a superficial world existing in the midst of a terrorizing reality and I can't move. I can't breathe.&quot; THIS IS JUST A SNIPPET OF MAFI'S POWERFUL WRITING. YOU WILL HAVE TO READ THIS FOR YOURSELF!!

BooksWithBite

More than 1 year ago

This book is simply earth shattering. As soon as I got this book, I began reading right before work and didn't stop. Let just say, I was a little late. What really gripped me about this book is the really strong connection the reader has with the main character Juliette.
As the reader begins reading Juliette's life, you are thrown into a dark peril of everlasting pain. Poor Juliette. To not be able to touch anyone. To have people dismiss you as you are a monster or something else....The heart breaking trouble that Juliette went through made me angry. Juliette knew that people were mean to her but her heart was in the right place.
Now, the love interest was really neat. I love it when you read a book and a person from the past comes into the picture who you never thought would be there. With the introduction of Adam everything just came faster as you read. Adam, I can say really shattered Juliette. He said all the right things, did all the right things, and he loved her. Adam made me swooooonnn! He even made my heart shatter!!
As far as the storyline goes, I really loved how it flowed. Nothing was too fast or too slow. As the reader, you see every little piece come together, as you follow Adam and Juliette. I like how the government was seen as control. Ms. Mafi gave you a really descriptive picture of the future there. You saw how people were treated and what was happening to the earth.
Ms. Mafi wrote a earth shattering, absolutely amazing book! All the characters as well as the storyline was all cleanly written. Ms. Mafi made it possible to be in the characters shoes as well as feel them. I can't wait to read the next breath taking book!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I got this book yesterday and I am already done with it. I stayed up until midnight to read. Shatter me had me laughing smiling blushing and crying along with the characters. This is the best book I have ever read! I do not reccomend this book for people under 11. Biggest fan of this book ever! Does anyone know if there is or is going to be a seond book?

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Words cannot describe this book. It is simply amazing. The writing is amazing. This author is one of my new favorites. Her writing is tangably brilliant. This book starts off strong and stays that way. It cauht me in its grip and would not let go. Five stars. Amazing. Must read. Just get it!

Teelovesgio

More than 1 year ago

Warning: This book is FANTASTIC! MIND BLOWING! BLOOD PUMPING PURE ADRENALINE!
My Rating: 10 of 10
My Cover Thoughts: The reason why I picked up the book was because of the cover. You see a girl on there with this long hair blowing every where and she is dressed in this white gown. You look at it and you say what the heck? What kind of book is this? Then you flip to the back and read the small blurb and you are hooked!
My Thoughts/Review: Juliette doesn¿t know who she is. She has never been told what she can do and why she can do it. Her family has turned their back on her and so has the system. Until one day she meets a boy with the most piercing blue eyes she has ever seen and she can¿t help but get lost in them. What she does not know is that he just may be her ticket to freedom.
Everyone wants to use Juliette as a weapon but all she wants is to be left alone. She does not want revenge on the people who abandoned her or the people who hurt her. All she wants is to live a normal life. But who can do that when there is a war going on and she is stuck right in the middle of it. She will have to learn how to trust people if she is going to survive.
Tahereh has done an excellent job of weaving together a story of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. This story had me on the edge of my seat saying OMG that just did not happen did it? Where are they going? What are they doing? I loved this so much I sent a copy to my girls JoJo and Bella! Lord girls I hope you love it like I did! Happy reading everyone because this book is going to leave you speechless and wanting more! I NEED the second book like ASAP! Lord the ending was just enough to keep you breathless until the second one comes out next year I hope.
Memorable Quotes: Page 52 Warner talking to Juliette: ¿I know your secret, Juliette. I know why you¿re in here. Your entire life is documented in hospital records, complaints to authorities, messy lawsuits, public demands to have you locked up.¿
Advice: THIS IS A MUST READ! THIS SERIES IS GOING TO BE EPIC!

Jaime13

More than 1 year ago

I'll openly admit this was one of those books like Divergent that I had friends pushing me to read. Every day they were like "Have you started yet? Why not?" and my best reasoning was I have other books I need to read and review first I'll get to it soon. Well finally one afternoon Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads and Rachel from Fiktshun told Patricia how awesome it was so she started bugging me to read it so, I finally did. Let me tell you I should have not have held onto this ARC for so long without reading it!!!!
This book was fantastic, brilliant, amazeballs, awesomesauce, and every other word that you can think of for great! The lyrical prose was beautifully written, the story flowed like a song flying off the pages! I literally dreamt about this book for the past three nights while reading it! I also cried quite a bit but, I laughed and smiled as well. I am hopelessly in love with Adam and very jealous of Juliette ;)
Tahereh Mafi has created a masterpiece with writing like this...
"I'm looking and not looking at his face, I'm licked by a million flames and swallowing a million more. He's staring at like me like he's never seen me before. I want to wash my soul in the bottomless blue of his eyes."
Swoons right? The writing is that lyrical and beautiful throughout the entire book!
Now we're expecting a really bad guy for a villain but I actually found him to be extremely interesting and, I didn't hate him. You're probably thinking how? Trust me when you read the book I think you'll understand.
If you like a good Dystopian read with a hint of fantasy and paranormal Shatter Me is the perfect book for you! I am patiently (NOT AT ALL) waiting for the next book. So when Shatter Me arrives at bookstores November 15th buy this book!!!!! I am not asking, I'm telling this book must be read!

NayNay13

More than 1 year ago

I was really hesitant to read this book, but once I started I couldn't stop. It took me all of one day to read, and it left me wanting more!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This is better than any other book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!!"!!!!"""""""""!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SecondLook

More than 1 year ago

I was blown away by the way Tahereh Mafi writes. It's hard to write in first person, but she does it with a skill that I haven't seen in years. It is true at first I thought this was going to be another stupid twilight knockoff. But, it pushes the envelope and really makes you want to keep reading. I took me TWO days to finish this book TWICE. It is a must read, It's been far too long, and know we finally have it, not only a strong main character, but a worth wild one as well. Juliet is someone who you want to believe in from the first page to the last. The Charters are dark, fun, passionate, and full of life.
I can't wait for the second book!

maximumride7998

More than 1 year ago

Tahereh Mafi's fabulous book Shatter Me is like X-Men or the Hunger Games, but then also completely unique and unlike any other book I've ever heard of or read. The writing is touching and so descriptive when reading this book I feel like I am one with Juliette and completely understand all the troubles she's facing and what she is experiencing. This book is absolutely wonderful and without a doubt the best book I have ever read. For anyone who enjoys a fantastic and intriguing romance novel, this is the book for you!

KikiD870

More than 1 year ago

I have had this book on my TBR pile for too long. Why did I wait so long to read it?! I loved just about everything abou this book! The premise was unbelievable, albeit terrifying.
The world that the author has create is bleak, very bleak. The environment is almost a wasteland, changed and damaged almost beyond hope. Society is almost unrecognizable to what we know, ruled now by what is essentially a global conglomerate. The world is so damaged that it has even begun to genetically change the living organisms that inhabit it. Those humans affected are hunted down, locked up or even killed for their newfound abilities.
The beginning of this book was horrifying, setting the mood for the way the world is now. Juliette is one of those changed people, now hovering on the brink of insanity. She is lost, confused, and desperately alone. Until she unexpectedly meets a boy, a boy from her past. The way they initially interact truly shows just how isolated Juliette really is and it is heart wrenching.
The characters are simply amazing. None of them can be clearly delineated as good versus bad. Most have moments of both. What makes them good or bad is how they feel about the things they have done. It makes for some real depth and emotion. That's the thing... despite the bleak world, this is truly a beautiful book. The world of Shatter Me is just enough like our own to be terrifying with the possibilities. But some of these characters still have hope and spirit and that is a beautiful thing.
My absolute favorite thing about this book was the writing style. At first, it threw me... the use of strikethroughs, choppy phrases, run-on's, and lack of punctuation from time to time. But you quickly realize that those things are deliberate and perfect. They completely underscore Juliette's state of mind as she goes through some of the things that she does. It's a brave choice and an absolutely effective one.
Things to love...
--The depth of the world. Bleak, yes, but totally able to be envisioned.
--The writing style. Such a great way to create mood.
--The characters. There are no clear-cut good versus bad.
My Recommendation
This is a fantastic and unique take on the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genres! The writing style is creative and the characters are absorbing.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

At first I was a little put off by some of the strange sayings the main character, Juliette, says. But as I read, I understood more the character and came to love her. This book is so good, I couldn't put it down. I hope Tahereh Mafi continues w/ Juliette and Adam's story. :)

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Wow. Others wrote they read this in one day, so I decided to give it a go. Absolutely amazing book! I hope to see this on the required reading list when my daughter is in high school in a few years.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Really liked it...kind of twilight with a forbidden romance but way better, took a day to read it i couldnt put it down. Def recommended

MojoFingers

More than 1 year ago

There's so much to NOT ruin about this fabulous book, that I don't want to go into too much detail.
Suffice it to say, while there are recognizable homages in this book as mentioned in other reviews, the form and writing drove the suspense and tension like a piledriver all the way through to the end.
Unforgettable characters (my two favorite aren't even the protagonists!) lend the story staying power that already has me hungry for the next installment.
Don't wait for the buzz to get out of control - get it now and enjoy it without the inevitable spoilers that fame will eventually bring!

MsMelis

More than 1 year ago

Some books are good at making you laugh. Others at making you cry. Others at making you think. Others at making your heart swell. I can honestly say that no other book has awakened all of my senses like Shatter Me has. I was on the verge of tears from the get go, taking in shallow breaths, and listening to the beat of my own heart. Words have never been more beautifully placed together. Human emotions have never been more accurately described. This was not a book that I wanted to speed through. Of course I couldn't devour the words fast enough, but I wanted and needed to take my time to experience every single syllable. I long for the release date to arrive so that I can buy my own copies (yes, copies). I want to highlight, write notes, and reread, reread, reread. I wrote down several quotes that captivated me. Some of the best quotes you will ever read. I can't even begin to tell you specifics about the story and characters. I don't want to ruin anything for you. Just know that I adore, admire, and cherish these characters. No one should go without experiencing Shatter Me for themselves. Tahereh Mafi is most definitely a force to be reckoned with. I am astounded by her writing ability, creativity, and originality.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Luv this book

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Breath, consider yourself taken away.
Honestly my favorite series I would recommend to anyone and everyone! Tahereh Mafi's writing style is exquisite, in my opinion. It truly spoke to my soul in more ways than one. Not only is the writing style beautiful, but the storyline itself was gripping. I could not put the book down. And, if I'm being completely honest with myself, I have read this series multiple times and know in my mind for a fact that I will reread it again in the future.
I don't have a single bad word to say about this book, as well as the entire series. However, I think you need to make that decision totally on your own, so I would 100% recommend getting the sample (it's ur lucky day - it's free!). If only to dip your toes in the water, at least you'll know for certain whether or not it's a worthwhile read for you.
Xoxo,
Gossip Girl lol jk

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

A view into a tortured soul. Bereft of love but always clinging to hope. Reading this is a reminder of the good and bad in humanity...both are a choice. I highly recommend...but don't expect to get anything else accomplished until you read til the end.

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